Like many little girls, 5-year-old Ellah was infatuated with Frozen from the day she first saw the wildly popular animated film. Her mom Kelly Clemons on the other hand, was less of a fan. Hoping she could please her daughter while staying true to her own stylish sensibilities, Kelly decided to give nod to the film by styling Ellah’s fifth birthday party after Hans Christian Andersen’s slightly darker, slightly creepier Snow Queen from which the Disney hit was loosely based.
Anticipating a need for snowflakes and sparkle, Kelly began by hitting the stores in late December, stocking up on deeply discounted holiday decorations. She knew her photographer husband’s warehouse studio would provide the perfect backdrop for a winter wonderland, so she focused on collecting the materials she’d need to make her Snow Queen vision a reality.
On the day of the party, Kelly mixed her clearance-sale finds with branches pulled straight from the Colorado River on a family vacation years before. The combination of old and new, muted tones and sparkle created a mystical and earthy feel, aptly capturing the magical yet mysterious vibe Kelly was going for.
Ellah’s nearly 100 guests (“Intimate? We don’t know how to pull that off,” Kelly jokes.) munched on sweets made by Kelly, who spent hours baking cookies and layers for the birthday cake that would adhere to her and her daughter’s gluten-free diets. To wash it all down, partygoers flocked to the hot chocolate bar where they had a bevy of toppings (think: marshmallows and crushed peppermint, nutmeg and cloves) from which to choose.
When they weren’t working on their sugar buzz, pint-sized attendees gathered on the floor where Kelly had provided construction paper, glitter, glue sticks and safety scissors. With thousands of dollars in photography equipment just steps away, the craft station served as a welcome distraction for kids prone to wander into trouble, and provided adults a chance to mingle among themselves.
For Ellah, the highlight of the party came when family and friends gathered around to sing “Happy Birthday” and watch her blow out her candles. Clad in a princess dress and a custom crown, courtesy of mom, Ellah was truly queen for the day. “She’s not a real ham,” Kelly says. “But she does love feeling special.”
Before heading home, Ellah and friends took turns taking swings at a custom snowflake piñata, one of the few decorations outsourced by Kelly, and filled Chinese paper boxes to the brim with Dum Dums, keeping their sugar buzzes going well into the night.
